核酸免疫可特异地诱发小鼠对乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原S＋PreS1的免疫反应

运用改造后的乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原Ｓ＋ＰｒｅＳ１融合基因（将ＰｒｅＳ１）区肝细胞受体结合位点（２１－４７ａａ）编码基因融合到Ｓ蛋白Ｃ端２２３位残基下游）,构建了一系列真核表达载体,并在ＣＨＯ细胞上有效表达了分泌型的,具有Ｓ＋ＰｒｅＳ１双重抗原性的融合蛋白颗粒,用上述质粒ＤＮＡ肌肉免疫Ｃ５７ＢＬ／６Ｊ小鼠,成功地检测到了抗一－ＨＢｓ和抗－ＰｒｅＳ１抗体,加强免疫能显著改善免疫效果,本研究还建立了检测抗     

乙型肝炎病毒前S2抗原决定簇（HBVPreS2epitope）与乙型肝炎病毒核心抗原（HBcAg）的基因融合与表达

乙肝前Ｓ２（ＨＢＶＰｒｅＳ２）肽段由５５个氨基酸组成,其Ｎ端肽段含Ｔｈ和Ｂ细胞抗原决定簇。我们将化学合成的ＰｒｅＳ２ｅｐｉｔｏｐｅ（１２０－１４５）基因与ＨＢｃＡｇ基因不同位点进行融合,融合基因在大肠杆菌中获得表达,并对融合蛋白进行了纯化。经ＥＬＩＳＡ和Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ－ｂｌｏｔ实验表明,融合蛋白具有ＰｒｅＳ２和ＨＢｃＡｇ两者的抗原性。此外,研究还表明,强启动子能使表达水平有一定提高。     

乙型肝炎病毒前S2抗原决定簇与乙型肝炎病毒核心抗原的基因融合与表达

乙肝前Ｓ２（ＨＢＶ ＰｒｅＳ２）肽段由５５个氨基酸组成,其Ｎ端肽段含Ｔｈ和Ｂ细胞抗原决定簇。我们将化学合成的ＰｒｅＳ２ ｅｐｉｔｏｐｅ（１２０－１４５）基因不同位点进行融合,融合基因在大肠杆菌中获得表达,并对融合蛋白进行了纯化。经ＥＬＩＳＡ和Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ－ｂｌｏｔ实验表明,融合蛋白具有ＰｒｅＳ２和ＨＢｃＡｇ两者的抗原性。此外,研究还表明,强启动子能使表达水平有一定的提高。     

核酸免疫可特异地诱发小鼠对乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原S+PreS1免疫反应

运用改造后的乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原Ｓ＋ＰｒｅＳ１融合基因（将ＰｒｅＳ１区肝细胞受体结合位点（２１－４７ａａ）编码基因融合到Ｓ蛋白Ｃ端２２３位残基下游）,构建了一系列真核表达载体,并在ＣＨＯ细胞上有效表达了分泌型的、具有Ｓ＋ＰｒｅＳ１双重抗原性的融合蛋白颗粒。用上述质粒ＤＮＡ肌肉免疫Ｃ５７ＢＬ／６Ｊ小鼠,成功地检测到了抗－ＨＢｓ和抗－ＰｒｅＳ１抗体,加强免疫能显著改善免疫效果。本研究还建立了检测抗－ＰｒｅＳ１的竞争抑制法和羊抗人ＨＢｓＡｇ封闭法,两种方法符合率达９６％,但后者更为敏感。用羊抗人ＨＢｓＡｇ封闭法测得抗－ＰｒｅＳ１滴度最高可达１：１２８０以上。     

乙肝前S2抗原决定簇串联体与核心抗原的基因融合与表达

乙肝前Ｓ２（ＨＢＶＰｒｅＳ２）肽段由５５个氨基酸组成,其Ｎ端肽段含Ｔｈ和Ｂ细胞抗原决定簇,为增强ＰｒｅＳ２的抗原性,本实验采用将化学合成的ＰｒｅＳ２ｅｐｉｔｏｐｅ（１２０－１４５）基因以串联方式与ＨＢｃＡｇ的基因进行了融合,融合基因在大肠杆菌中获得表达,并通过ＥＬＩＳＡ比较研究了融合蛋白中ＰｒｅＳ_２ｅｐｉｔｏｐｅ单体及串联体的抗原性差异。     

乙肝前S2抗原决定簇串联体与核心抗原的基因融合与表达

乙肝前Ｓ２（ＨＢＶＰｅｒＳ２）肽段由５５个氨基酸组成,其Ｎ端肽段含Ｔｈ和Ｂ细胞抗原决定簇,为增强ＰｒｅＳ２的抗原性,本实验采用将化学合成的ＰｒｅＳ２ｅｐｉｔｏｐｅ（１２０－１４５）基因以串联方式与ＨＢｃＡｇ的基因进行了融合,融合基因在大肠杆菌中获得表达,并通过ＥＬＩＳＡ比较研究了融合蛋白中ＰｒｅＳ２ｅｐｉｔｏｐｅ单体及串联体的抗原性差异。     

乙肝PreS_2抗原决定簇和霍乱毒素B亚基基因的融合与表达

通过全化学法按大肠杆菌密码偏性合成了乙肝炎病毒（ＨＢＶ）前Ｓ２抗原（ＰｒｅＳ２）抗原决定簇基因,与霍乱毒素Ｂ亚基基因的３’端融合。重组质粒转化大肠杆菌后融合基因得到高效表达,表达量达３０μｇ／ｍＬ,表达产物９５％以上分泌到胞外。表达的融合蛋白能与神经节苷脂ＧＭ１结合,说明融合蛋白保持了霍乱毒素Ｂ亚基（ＣＴＢ）的基本高级结构和生物学功能;酶联免疫吸附实验证明融合蛋白具有ＣＴＢ和ＨＢＶＰｒｅＳ２的抗原性;应用亲和层析纯化后得到了电泳纯融合蛋白制品,为研究融合蛋白免疫原性并进一步构建基因工程肽苗奠定了基础。     

大肠杆菌脂蛋白在CTB—pres2抗原基因的融合及表达

首次采用基因融合方式,在乱毒素Ｂ亚基－乙型肝炎病毒Ｐｒｅｓ２抗原融合基因的５‘端引入编码大肠杆菌脂蛋白信号肽及Ｎ端九个氨基酸的核苷酸序列,分别置于ｃｔｂ及ｌａｃ启动子下在大肠杆菌中获得分泌性表达,表达的融合蛋白均定位于膜上,并且可以和ＧＭ１、抗－ＣＴＢ抗体及ＨＢＶＰｒｅＳ２单克隆抗体结合说明该融合蛋白保留了ＣＴＢ的基本高级结构及ＣＴＢ、ＰｒｅＳ２抗原的抗原性,＾３Ｈ－棕榈酸标记实验证实该融合蛋白发     

乙肝PreS2抗原决定簇和霍乱毒素B亚基基因的融合与表达

通过全化学法按大肠杆菌密码偏性合成了乙肝炎病毒前Ｓ２抗原抗原决定簇基因,与霍乱毒素Ｂ亚基基因的３＇端融合,重组质粒转化大肠杆菌后融合基因得到高效表达,表达量达３０μｇｍＬ,表达产物９５％以上分泌到胞外,表达的融合蛋白能与神经节苷脂ＧＭ１结合,说明融合蛋白保持了霍乱霉素Ｂ亚基的基本高级结构和生物学功能;酶联免疫吸附实验证明融合蛋白具有ＣＴＢ和ＨＢＶＰｒｅＳ２的抗原性;应用亲和层析纯化后得到了电泳纯融     

乙肝病毒preS抗原决定簇与核心抗原的融合表达

将乙肝病毒表面抗原的ｐｒｅＳ抗原决定簇片段与核心抗原进行融合,分别构建了在核心抗原中间对应第７５～８３位氨基酸之间的融合及在核心抗原羧端对应第１５６位氨基酸处的融合,并在ｔａｃ启动子的控制下于大肠杆菌中表达。表达产物经ＥＬＩＳＡ检测和ＷｅｓｔｅｒｎＢｌｏｔｔｉｎｇ分析,表明融合蛋白均被表达,其单体分子量大小与推算值一致．电镜观察和ＣｓＣｌ密度梯度超离心测定都表明融合蛋白能形成颗粒,其密度略小于天然的ＨＢｃ颗粒。初步纯化的融合蛋白免疫Ｂａｌｂ／ｃ小鼠;能产生高滴度的抗－ｐｒｅＳ１抗体,表明ＰｒｅＳｌ（２１～４７）在核心抗原ｅｌｌｏｏｐ区的融合能大大提高其免疫原性．     

High Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Levels Predict Insignificant Fibrosis in Hepatitis B e Antigen Positive Chronic Hepatitis B

Introduction

There is no data on the relationship between hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels and liver fibrosis in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods

Serum HBsAg and HBV DNA levels in HBeAg-positive CHB patients with liver biopsies were analyzed. The upper limit of normal (ULN) of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was 30 and 19 U/L for men and women respectively. Histologic assessment was based on Ishak fibrosis staging for fibrosis and Knodell histologic activity index (HAI) for necroinflammation.

Results

140 patients (65% male, median age 32.7 years) were recruited. 56 (40%) had ALT ≤2×ULN. 72 (51.4%) and 42 (30%) had fibrosis score ≤1 and necroinflammation grading ≤4 respectively. Patients with fibrosis score ≤1, when compared to patients with fibrosis score >1, had significantly higher median HBsAg levels (50,320 and 7,820 IU/mL respectively, p<0.001). Among patients with ALT ≤2×ULN, serum HBsAg levels achieved an area under receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.869 in predicting fibrosis score ≤1. HBsAg levels did not accurately predict necroinflammation score. HBsAg ≥25,000 IU/mL was independently associated with fibrosis score ≤1 (p = 0.025, odds ratio 9.042).Using this cut-off HBsAg level in patients with ALT ≤2×ULN, positive and negative predictive values for predicting fibrosis score ≤1 were 92.7% and 60.0% respectively. HBV DNA levels had no association with liver histology.

Conclusion

Among HBeAg-positive patients with ALT ≤2×ULN, high serum HBsAg levels can accurately predict fibrosis score ≤1, and could potentially influence decisions concerning treatment commencement and reduce the need for liver biopsy.     

Effects of Entecavir on Hepatitis B Virus Covalently Closed Circular DNA in Hepatitis B e Antigen-Positive Patients with Hepatitis B

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of 48-week entecavir therapy on serum and intrahepatic hepatitis B virus, covalently closed circular DNA (HBV cccDNA) levels in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients. A total of 120 patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis were treated with entecavir for 48 weeks. Serum HBV markers, total HBV DNA, and HBV cccDNA levels were measured at baseline and week 48. Biopsies from 20 patients were available for both intrahepatic total HBV DNA and cccDNA testing at these timepoints. HBV cccDNA levels were decreased from a median level of 5.1×10⁶ copies/mL at baseline to a median level of 2.4×10³ copies/mL at week 48. Reduction magnitudes of HBV cccDNA in patients with normalized alanine aminotransferase levels and those undergoing HBeAg seroconversion were significantly greater than those in alanine aminotransferase-abnormal and HBeAg positive patients. Intrahepatic HBV cccDNA was decreased significantly after 48 weeks of treatment, but could not be eradicated. In conclusion, treatment of HBeAg-positive hepatitis B patients with entecavir for 48 weeks decreased serum and intrahepatic HBV cccDNA significantly, and the magnitude of HBV cccDNA reduction was related to total HBV DNA decrease, alanine aminotransferase normalization, and HBeAg seroconversion.     

Prediction of Clinical Outcomes in Hepatitis B E Antigen Negative Chronic Hepatitis B Patients with Elevated Hepatitis B Virus DNA Levels

Objectives

We investigated whether long-term clinical outcomes such as disease progression or inactive hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrier state can be predicted by baseline factors in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative HBV infected patients with an elevated viral load.

Methods

A retrospective cohort of 527 HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infected patients with an elevated viral load (HBV DNA ≥ 2,000 IU/ml) was assessed for disease progression defined by the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or cirrhotic complication, as well as becoming an inactive carrier.

Results

During a median 3.6 years of follow-up, disease progression was detected in 46 patients (40 with HCC, 6 with cirrhotic complication), and 31 of 309 non-cirrhotic patients became inactive carriers. Older age, male gender, cirrhosis, high HBV DNA levels at baseline, and short antiviral therapy duration were independent risk factors for HCC. Low HBV DNA and quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen (qHBsAg) levels were independent predictors for becoming inactive carriers in patients without cirrhosis. In non-cirrhotic patients with both low qHBsAg and HBV DNA levels, the 5-year cumulative incidence of an inactive carrier was 39.8%, while that of disease progression was 1.6%.

Conclusion

HBeAg negative patients without cirrhosis can be closely monitored for becoming an inactive carrier when both HBV DNA and qHBsAg levels are low, as the risk of disease progression is low while incidence of an inactive carrier is high.     

乙型肝炎脂肽疫苗

脂肽疫苗中的脂质部分能够提高肽苗的免疫原性,在无佐剂的条件下即能有效地激发体内抗原特异性的体液和细胞免疫反应。该文主要综述了乙型肝炎脂肽疫苗研究进展,为进一步研制用于预防和治疗的新型乙型肝炎脂肽疫苗奠定基础。     

Hepatitis B vaccine improvement

Data about ongoing researches in order to increase efficacy and immunogenicity of licensed hepatitis B vaccines and to develop new therapeutic vaccines for chronic hepatitis B treatment are reviewed.